Photo courtesy USDA NRCS Image Gallery: Grassland.
Official State Nickname of Indiana
Indiana designates "The Hoosier State" as the official state nickname. The name "Hoosier" is rooted deep in the history of Indiana and the original meaning is uncertain. Historians, folklorists, politicians, and everyday Hoosiers offer many colorful theories on the origin of the term, but no one has a definitive answer. All State Nicknames
What is known is that the nickname "Hoosier" came into general usage in the 1830's. It's one of the oldest and most popular of state nicknames. "Hoosier" identifies the state's rustic individualism, and residents of Indiana embrace the nickname with pride.
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